Chicago is one of the most segregated cities in America. A long history of redlining has subjected this city to divides in Black and Brown communities that continue to harm youth today. These neighborhoods were practically abandoned by the government, which left noticeable gaps in education and love that were filled in with rampant poverty and survival-based violence. Many Black and Brown neighborhoods in Chicago lack adequate schools as they were left overcrowded, underfunded, and unloved.
Florecer is a Black, Brown, and queer-led organization on the Southwest Side dedicated to reintroducing love into Black and Brown communities. Florecer was started in 2020 by my good friend Jesus Hidalgo and some of his friends, though at the time it was called Chi Student Pandemic Response. The organizationâs first actions were to demand the City address educational and racial inequalities in the midst of COVID-19, and protesting against the unjust killings of Black and Brown people in 2020 and before. In 2021,the Chicago Police Department took the lives of two young Latinx people, Anthony Alvarez and Adam Toledo, only twenty-two and thirteen, respectively. Since then, Florecer has been able to open and extend the care it has provided in an effort to make all of Chicago a safe space for Black and Brown people.
Florecer has its roots in harm reduction, violence prevention, and generally creating a space where Black and Brown youth can reimagine the meaning of community through art, mutual aid, and community building. I was drawn to Florecer for all these reasons, though the biggest motivator is the community that it builds.
The past few years, Florecer has hosted annual community cookouts across the Southwest Side to address intercommunal gun violence with community building. This tradition started the summer of 2020, sparked by multiple shootings in Brighton Park. The inaugural event was held on a hot summer day in Gunsaulus Scholastic Academy playground where kids played soccer, listened to music, enjoyed tacos and picked up free clothes. As the hours passed and the fatigue set in, moms and their kids bonded together in the safe chaos found in a game of musical chairs, collapsing into each other, replacing the sounds of the night with laughter.
Since its inception, Florecer members have stepped up to meet communitiesâ essential needsâmedicine, clothing, foodâwhere the City had largely failed. Florecer helped furnish migrant familiesâ homes, provided clothing, and tutored their children. These young leaders took on the responsibility with a resolve beyond immediate relief, forming lasting bonds with families even after being moved out of the police stations.
Florecer has been a beacon of love and care for Black, Brown, and queer youth since its creation in 2020. Its collective organizing efforts have begun to bridge historical gaps created by those before us. It may take a lot to heal these wounds completely but Florecer has taken the initiative to create space for healing to begin.
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